The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-11-10
How Window alas, u Made. !,

The workmen were engaged in max,
ing window glass, and proceeded in q
way that seemed very simple. A young
man would take one of tho long hollow
iron pipes we saw the gaunt man juggle
with. and approaching one of the
mouths of the great furnace with the in
difference Of n salamander-iirst, how
ever, protecting his face with leather
screen-wouh proceed by series OF
wave-like movements of the pipc TO
gather at the end ball of liquid glass,
getting his supply from fire-clay pot.
These pots contained a mixture Of soda,
lime and sand, which had been reduced
by firing for two days After gathering
wad the size of coceanut, the young
man would turn and cool 1t upon an
iron plate, still keeping up the waye-like
rotary motion. Then he would return
to the pot and begin fishing again. then
back to the iron plate. for cooling, and
then more angling BY this time he
has gathered bah ef about sixteen
pounds weight and Of intense heat
Now cooling the pipe with water. he
carries his burden over and deposits it
on large iron plate-this one floating
in tub Of water-gives the pipe to a
Hass-blower, and seizing another iron,
goes back to the furnace to perform his
part once again.
The g!ass-blower rolls the ball upon
the plate until he has made the ball as.
sumo d pear shape. when LIE applies the
pipe to his lips and blows until his
cheeks stand out like red apples, blows
till he is red behind the ears, blows un-
til he becomes of a complexion as bloom
ing as the glass. All this. while hs inn
parts rotary motion TO the pipe. and
does not cease either the blowing or the
rotating cntil the pear shaped glass has
expanded into the rude semblance of q
bottle with no neck and q very. thick
bottom. Now over he goes to one OF
the mouths of the side furnace. into
which he thrusts the pipe to warm the
mean-looking bottle at the end. Al bis
feet is the grave-iike pit
Now watch him. He takes the pine
from the furnace, blows in it and lets j,
swing before in the pit. The glass be-
gins to lsngthen out. stove-pipe fashion;
into the furnace again; now out and
over his head. Agitats the pipe. Blow.
VOW = p.S sweep IrOA mld-alr tcrOugh
the pit and up again. Blow. Now . |
Pendulun,-like movement-up-down-
The glass has be.
come cylinder four feet long. Heat
again and withdraw. Blow. Rotate
A little more jugglery-here-there-l
right side-left-a beautiful swing be-
low! Tho cylinder is over five feet long
nowi The work is done!
These cylinders are placed. still glow
Ing, on q stand. A tap with a pieco Of |
stsel releases the blow-pipe. the blowc,
makes a measurement with stick,
wraps string of hot glass about the
cylinder. the superaaous part falls of as
though cut with diamond, and the
eylinder-about five feet long
and eighteen inches in dias,ster-is ear
fed to a place Of safety. Tomorrow q
hot steel rod will cut zach Of the cylin-
1ers through one side. thus leaving it
ike sheet Of paper twisted until its
upper and lower edges meet This roll
will be subjected to another gentle bak-
ng. when it will fatted out into large
'heet Of glass. This will be cut into
'heets of the proper size. and the work
Q done.